There is a very good choice of restaurants and cafes from deluxe to fast food (hamburgers and fish and chips), including Chinese, fish and beachside bars. Table service is normal, but many bars and cafes have table and/or counter service. Pork and fish dishes are recommended and vegetables are excellent. The best Maltese fruits are oranges and grapes; also delicious are strawberries, melons, mulberries, tangerines, pomegranates and figs.

Things to know: Licensing hours of bars, restaurants and cafes are usually 0900-0100 and beyond. Most hotel bars close between 1300 and 1600 and then reopen after 1800.

National specialities:
• Lampuki pie (fish pie).
• Bragoli (beef olives).
• Fenek (rabbit cooked in wine).
• Ricotta sweets are popular.
• Helwa tat-Tork (a sweet sugary mixture of crushed and whole almonds, offered to diners after a meal).

National drinks:
• Maltese beer is excellent.
• Maltese wine.
• Maltese spirits.

Tipping: 10 to 15% is expected in hotels and restaurants when not included in the bill.

There are several discos, bars and nightclubs. Roulette, baccarat, blackjack and boule can be played at the Dragonara casino, St Julian’s or at the Casino de Venezia in Vittoriosa. The Manoel Theatre is one of the oldest in Europe. Cinemas show mainly English and American films.

Special purchases include Malta weave, pottery, blown glass, ceramics, dolls, lace, copper and brass items. Malta is renowned for its gold and silver filigree work and handmade lace.

Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1300 and 1600-1900.